Since health officials started tracking it in 2003, effectiveness of the flu shot has varied from year to year, averaging at 40%.
![How Effective is the Flu Vaccine? How Effective is the Flu Vaccine?](https://i0.wp.com/img.webmd.com/dtmcms/live/webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/article_thumbnails/video/truth_about_flu_shots_video/650x350_truth_about_flu_shots_video.jpg?fit=%2C&ssl=1)
Since health officials started tracking it in 2003, effectiveness of the flu shot has varied from year to year, averaging at 40%.